[TitaniumTT]

Originally Posted by RotaryProphet

Yes, yes it is, apparently. The way I see it, there are basically three kinds of people. People who don't know, and don't want to know how an ECU works. Go get any of a number of big name ECUs, and get someone to install and tune it, and it'll work great and do what you want.

Then there's the people who don't know, but want to know how the ecu works; building it from scratch and tuning it yourself is a fantastic learning experience, and after a little bit, you'll actually understand what you're doing.

Finally there's the people who do understand. Those are the guys who use Megasquirt because of the openness. Want to add a new feature? Build a circuit for it, download the code, modify it to do what you want, and load it on your ECU.

The Megasquirt can be inexpensive because the default hardware is the bare minimum necessary to run almost any engine. Most ECUs are expensive because the default configuration has to support most every engine. Basically, most of the circuits are sitting idle most of the time. I'll freely admit that the Megasquirt isn't for everyone; actually, if you're not sure, then it's probably not for you. But really, we've strayed off from my original point in this post, which was that a lot of people vastly overpay for parts, when cheaper alternatives exist that work just as well... sometimes better.

Well, I'm apparently the 2nd type of person. However, just to play devils advocate.... ok, stir the pot a little, can a megasquirt be configured to run a 13B-REW engine with the sequentials working properly, the electric OMP working properly, run closed loop boost control, closed loop Lambda control, Closed loop Idle control, run an e-fan, a fuel pump/ign relay, traction control, have a 10 position dial swtich for boost control, EMAP comps, log coolant and oil temps, oil pressure, fuel pressure, AIT's, MAP, TPS, EMAP, 14 different duty cycles and display it all on your laptop in any configuration possible while having CAN communications with a digital dash?

Again, you get what you pay for.

I would also like to point out that if you go to any proffesional level races, I highly doubt you'll see one MS, even landspeed challenges which are mostly individuals probably won't run them and some of these guys, one I know personally, has been around FI for the better part of 4 decades and can certainly wield a soldering gun wouldn't even touch them. His comment on Microtech, "Well I suppose you could fill it with concrete and use it as a doorstop, then it might be good for something," and we all know that microtechs are just fine for certain applications. Again, you generally get what you pay for.